Postage-stamp detacher and affixer



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. A. OHAMBLISS. POSTAGE STAMP DETAOHER AND AFFIXER.

No. 598,263. Patented 1 615.1, 1898.

F44 J Z l/VVENTOR (No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. GHAMBLISS.

POSTAGE STAMP DETAGHBR AND AFFIXER. No. 598,263. Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

Ninn STATES ATENT FFICE.

JOHN A. CHAMBLISS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

POSTAGE-STAMP DETACHER AND AF F|XER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,263, dated February 1, 1898. Application filed May 11, 1897. Serial No. 6 S5,991. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN A. CHAMBLISS, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Postage-Stamp Detachers and Aftixers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine for affixing and detaching postagestamps, whereby one stamp at a time may be detached from a sheet of stamps, the gum on the same moistened, and the detached stamp applied to the envelop.

- The invention consists of a bed-plate provided with means for feeding forward a sheet of stamps, a carriage guided transversely across the bed-plate and comprising a moistener, a stamp-separating device, and means for pressing the detached and moistened stamp onto the envelop, aswill be fully described hereinafter and then particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my machine for detaching and affixing postage stamps with the cover removed. Fig.2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the cover. Fig. 3 is a front eleva tion. Fig. 4: is a section on the line 4 4, Fig. 5 5 and Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, Aindicates the bed-plate for supporting the working parts of my machine, said bed-plate being supported on a table or other suitable support and carrying at one end a pair of rolls, ofwhich one, B, is journalecl in a circular bore or opening in the bed-plate, so that its periphery projects slightly above the surface of the bedplate, while the other roll, B, which is of smaller diameter than the roll B, is arranged above the latter and is supported in suitable brackets 19, extending from the bed-plate. To prevent the rolls from abrading or injuring the sheet of stamps G, which is placed upon the bed-plate, said rolls should be clothed or covered with yielding material, or they may be composed of wood. At one end of the roll B is a ratchet-wheel D, with the teeth of which engages a pawl cl, which is pivoted to a handlever D, that is fixed to one end of the said roll. The limits of motion of the hand-lever D are so defined that when the said hand-lever l is moved forward the pawl d, engaging the ratchet-wheel D, will feed forward the forward stripof' stamps into proper and effective working position, so that said forward strip will project in frontof and just beyond the front end of the bed-plate A.

Extending across the front end of the bedplate A and supported thereon by means of suitable brackets is a guide-frame E, in the guideway of which is guided a guide-block E, said frame forming the stop for the hand-lever D. This guide-block and the parts, to be hereinafter described, which move with it form what will be termed the carriage. In the central opening of the guide-block E is guided the shank E of a plunger E which shank carries at its upper end a knob E, between which .and the guide-block E is arranged a helical spring e, that is coiled around the shank E so that the plunger is always retracted or held up thereby. The guideblock E is permitted to move along said guideframe from one side of the machine to the other, so that the plunger can be depressed opposite any projecting stamp.

Formed in the forward edge of the bed plate is a dovetailed groove f, in which is guided a correspondingly-shaped slide f, to which is affixed in any suitable manner a reservoir F. The reservoir is furthermore connected with the guide-block E of the plunger by means of a suitable connecting-piece f which is of suitable conformation, so as to clear the forwardly-projecting strip of stamps. The slide f supports alsoa block F by means of suitable fastenings, said block in turn supporting a vertically-adjustable table G. This table is provided with a depending portion or flange G, which is formed with avertical slot g, through which pass set-screws 9, whereby the table may be vertically adjusted relatively to the upper surface of the bed-plate A and v edge of the forwardly projecting strip of stamps, while its horizontal upper portionextends slightly above and toward the bedplate, its rear end being provided with a curved-up lip 77., that is arranged over the bed-plate adjacent to the feeding mechanism. Said throat-piece is also provided with aflaring portion 77., that is arranged on'the side of the same toward which the transversely-shiftable parts are caused to travel for detaching and applying a stamp. The upper part of the throat-piece furthermore supports a hat or other suitable spring 1', which at its free end immediately under the plunger. E carries a movable cutter I. This cutter I is not in the form of a knife, but is in the form of a block, the corner 2" of which is ground very.

neatly and accurately, so as to form a sharp cutting edge, which cooperates with the fixed cutter I, formed by beveling or sharpening the upper inner corner of the reservoir 7 E. These cutters are adapted to sever the stamps in the direction of the length of the forwardly projecting strip of stamps. The other side of the stamp is separated from the sheet through v the cooperation of the inner'lower corner of the cutter I, said corner cooperating with the angular corner of the bed-plate A. These cutters and the cuttingedges may be formed in any desired manner, and the construction of the same as shown herein'i's not, therefore, necessary. Other forms of cutter will suggest themselves to skilled mechanics.

The moistening'of the'stamps is accom plished through the medium of moisture, which is supplied, from the reservoirF. This reservoir F is arranged at avpoint to one side of the cutting device I, said cutting device being of a size corresponding to one stamp,

while the reservoir, being'arranged to one side of said cutting device, corresponds to the next stamp, so that moisture can be supplied,

to said next stamp. The upper part of 'the reservoir is closed by a perforated plate}, so

that the moistening liquid can be supplied through said perforations to the gum 'on the stamp through the medium of anabsorbent Z, such as a sponge, which is preferably fed with water by means of an absorbent feeder Z such as a wick, which extends intothe lower part of the reservoir, said sponge being supported upon a perforated diaphragm Z inside of the upper part of the reservoir. 1

For inclosing a number of sheets of stamps there is preferably secured to the bed-plate a hinge S of suitable size and shape, which for the purpose of obtaining security andpre venting the access of unauthorized persons to j the inclosed stamps can be locked to the b ed- B and B of the feeding devices.

upon the bedplate A, inserting the front edge of the sheet just between the two rolls The lever D is now given two oscillations, so that the forward strip of stamps is caused to project beyond the front end of the bed-plate. It will .be' understood that without any other devices this forwardly projecting strip of stamps could by hand be torn off against the upper forward sharp corner of the bed-plate, which forms a cutting edge. I-Iere, however, is where the main part of my invention comes into play for the purpose of detaching one stamp after the other from the forwardly-projecting strip and applying moisture to each successive stamp as the preceding stamp is and moves the carriage, which carries the detaching and moistening parts of the appa- 'ratus, to the nearest point to hiinpossible, so that the first stamp can be moistened. This shouldbe done before the forward strip of stamps is fed beyond the bed-plate. V The carriageis now moved alonguntilthe guideblock E comes in contact with the first stops j, which proj ect in theform of diminutive teats ,from theguide-frame These stops are arranged at regular intervals correspond- ,ing to the perforations in the sheet of stamps, and'to detachv the same it is only necessary to use a little additional force, Ordinarily the easy forward movementof the carriage will permit the stops to prevent the further movement of the same. The reservoir having thus, acting upon the cutting-block I and causing the cutting edges thereof, in connec tion with the fixed cutting edges below the sheet of stamps, to detach the first stamp and simultaneously press the same upon the envelop. The stampedenvelop is now removed, and the carriage shifted to the next position, I so? that the third stamp will be moistened while the second stamp is detachedand applied to an envelop as before. This series of operationsis kept up until the stamps of the forwardly-projecting strip are detached and applied to the envelops. retracted and, the next strip of stamps fed The carriage is now forward by the feeding mechanism. The detaching andapplyin g of this strip is proceeded withas before. i

2 It is evident that certain details in the construction andarrangernent of parts could be resorted to by skilled mechanics without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,and Ido not therefore limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown.

I Having thus described my invention, I

claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a machine for detaching and affixing postage-stamps the combination, with a bedplate, and feeding mechanism, of a carriage ICO fbe en rnoved opposite the second stamp and V the upper right-hand corner of the envelop j in'serted betweenthe work-table G and the cutting-block I, the plunger E is depressed,

guided transversely across the bed-plate, said carriage comprising a moistener, a detaching device, and means for pressing the detached and moistened stamp onto the envelop, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for detaching and affixing postage-stamps the combination, with a bedplate, and feeding mechanism for the sheet of stamps, of a guide-frame extending transversely of the bed-plate,and a carriage guided on said guide-frame, and comprising a mois tener, detaching devices arranged to one side of said moistener, and means for pressing the detached and moistened stamp upon the envelop, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for detaching and affixing postage-stamps the combination, with a bedplate, of a carriage guided across the bedplate, and comprising a moistener, detaching devices arranged to one side of the moistener, and means cooperating with said detaching devices for applying the detached and moistened stamp to the envelop, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for detaching and affixing postage-stamps; the combination, with the bed-plate, of a carriage guided along one end of the bed-plate,and com prisinga moistenerga work-table arranged to one side of the moistener for supporting the envelop, detaching a plunger cooperating with said detaching devices, and a work-table arranged below the plunger and detaching devices, substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine for detaching and affixing postage-stamps; the combination, with a bedplate, of a carriage guided across said bedplate, and comprising a moistener, a throatpiece, detaching devices arranged to one side of the throat-piece and moistener, a work table, and a plunger cooperating with the detaching devices, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- JOHN A. OHAMBLISS.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. WHEELooK, THOMAS M. ROWLETTE. 

